W.P Wagner High School has already raised over $60,000 for the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser through their annual “Wagathon” Fundraiser so far. The annual bikeathon event aims to create a student-driven initiative through a school-wide effort towards an actionable cause.
This event will mark the second Bikeathon fundraiser for the BSSF, the previous occurrence from Steele Heights School during the 2025 BSSF Fundraiser.
“This promotes more schools to get involved during a different timeline, and it helps us establish our presence as a year-round organization, as usually most fundraiser money is raised in the fall – but this helps change that,” says Aariz Mawji, Founder and Director of the BSSF. “We’re super honored to have the bikeathon supporting us this year and super excited for the event on the 24th!”
Marketing Director Alex Sokolovski also noted the importance of the Wagathon for the fundraiser.
“W.P Wagner’s Wagathon is a big step towards the BSSF’s 2026 goal of raising $1,000,000,” Sokolovski says. “I am very excited to see how their fundraiser progresses and if they manage to achieve their goal to raise $100,000.”
Wagner’s Wagathon event is a 24-hour event in which students in teams of 8-10 work to keep a stationary bike’s wheels spinning for the entire duration of the event. Teams participating in the Wagathon are required to fundraise a minimum of $1000. Donations to support the Wagathon can be made through __.
For 2026, the Wagathon will be held from 8:00 AM on April 24 through 8:00 AM on April 25.
“This year, the decision to support the Ben Stelter Foundation was chosen by the entire school,” says Chantel Stefanich, teacher organizer of the Wagathon and Head of Student Leadership at Wagner. “First, we narrowed our choices to 3 different sectors. One focused on supporting seniors in the city. The second was a charity that helps women in need. Then third we had chosen a charity that focuses on supporting children going through cancer. We made videos about each charity and written summaries and then we put a vote out to the entire school on Google Classroom platforms. The results were over 50% in support of Wagathon 2026 should support the Ben Stelter Foundation.”
WP Wagner began hosting bikeathon fundraisers in 2008, where they raised $25,507 for War Child Canada. Over the 14 years that Wagner has held the annual events, they have raised over $1,000,000 for a varying selection of charities across Canada.
“This Bikeathon is a way to connect students in our school. It not only helps create connections through all the team work, but also builds empathy.” says student organizer Gurashish Sidhu. “While working towards our fundraising goals, going out, talking to different individuals in our communities we open ourselves to creating new relationships. Overall, it allows students to advocate for an important cause and influences others around them.”
W. P Wagner School is part of the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser’s Spring Program, which grants their school a higher chance in the McDavid draw. Every $1000 raised through their fundraiser earns them an extra ballot in the fall McDavid draw, earning them a chance to have a visit from the captain of the Edmonton Oilers himself.
“As a student organizer, my hope for the Bikeathon is not only to raise meaningful funds for the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser, but also to bring our school together around a shared purpose. I want students to feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves.” says student organizer Achal Patel. “Student participation and initiative are what truly drive the success of events like this. When students take ownership, it creates a stronger sense of responsibility, leadership, and school spirit. It’s not just about fundraising; it’s about building empathy, teamwork, and awareness. The impact goes beyond the money raised. Students develop confidence and learn that their actions can make a difference in the community.
Student organizer Riya Patel additionally commented on the role of student participation and her hopes on the fundraiser’s impacts.
“Through Wagathon, we hope to create a lasting impact that inspires others to do the same. With this fundraiser we aim to come together and work for the benefit of all by raising money for technology advancements and more.” she says. “At W.P. Wagner, we always turn back to the question: “What will be your legacy?”. By stepping up and taking initiative for big events like these, we are able to build on important leadership and life skills such as communication, team work, accountability, and cooperation.”
W.P Wagner’s Wagathon is one of the numerous school-run, student-driven fundraising initiatives towards the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser across the city, showing how community effort is the essential element to inspire positive change.
Link to donate: https://benstelterfoundation.crowdchange.ca/128005
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